Plastic Surgery Insurance Coverage
Can You Afford the High Price of Cosmetic Surgery?
Learn more about current costs for plastic surgery, and ways to afford high cosmetic surgery prices. Find out if you have insurance coverage, or what alternatives to try.
Plastic surgery costs continue to climb. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, plastic surgery became even more difficult to afford in 2006.
Some statistics about average prices* for cosmetic surgery from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2005 and 2006:
- Botox: 2005 Plastic Surgery Costs $363 / 2006 Costs $492
- Breast Lift: 2005 Cosmetic Surgery Prices $3573 / 2006 Costs $4220
- Butt Lift: 2005 Cosmetic Surgery Prices $3790 / 2006 Costs $4527
- Calf Augmentation: 2005 Plastic Surgery Costs $2221 / 2006 Costs $2982
- Facelift: 2005 Cosmetic Surgery Prices $4484 / 2006 Costs $4856
- Lip Augmentation: 2005 Plastic Surgery Costs $1182 / 2006 Costs $1603
- Liposuction: 2005 Plastic Surgery Costs $2323 / 2006 Costs $2750
- Microdermabrasion: 2005 Cosmetic Surgery Prices $177 / 2006 Costs $264
- Tummy Tuck: 2005 Plastic Surgery Costs $4402 / 2006 Costs $5063
*Prices do not include fees for anesthesia, operating room facilities or other surgery-related expenses. Your actual cost for plastic surgery may be much higher.
Get coverage for your plastic surgery with insurance.
You can get some coverage for plastic surgery through your health insurance, but only in specific situations. Women with back problems often find that breast reduction surgery is covered by their health insurance. Facial surgeries to correct paralysis or conditions affecting the facial muscles are often covered by insurance. Nasal deformities that affect breathing might result in a free nose job. In other words, insurance coverage for plastic surgery is typically only available for people who need it for health reasons. Not just because you want to have it done.
There are some other options available to help cover plastic surgery costs.
- Affordable plastic surgery with medical tourism. Many people have turned to medical tourism to find affordable plastic surgery. The price to have cosmetic surgery in Cuba, Costa Rica, India and a number of other countries is only a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.- including travel expenses. Medical tourism has become increasingly popular; it's no wonder, when you look at the rising costs of plastic surgery. There are other benefits of medical tourism, including convenience- there is often less time to wait before surgery in some of the popular medical destination countries. There are also a number of risks, including the risk of contracting an infectious disease. Medical tourism also may prevent you from having a leg to stand on in case of wrongdoing; not all foreign medical malpractice lawsuits hold up for visiting foreigners.
- Discount packages can make plastic surgery affordable. If you plan to have a series of Botox injections or multiple procedures, your doctor's office may be able to give you a better rate. Don't forget to ask about your physician's policy on discounts, especially if you're thinking about getting more work done.
- Find out if your physician will let you finance the cost of plastic surgery. Many reputable cosmetic surgeons will allow you to finance procedures to help allay the costs. In addition, some banks and lending institutions specialize in financing plastic surgery.
These days, it's probably always a good idea to check with your insurance company to find out if you have coverage before you have any kind of medical procedure done. Once you know what insurance coverage you have for the plastic surgery you want (if any), then you can decide what you need to do next.
Learn more about health insurance including paying for prenatal healthcare, choosing between HMOs and PPOs and getting medical debt help.
Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences getting insurance coverage for plastic surgery.
